Christopher Durang News

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at an awards ceremony hosted by David Henry Hwang on Monday, February 23, 2015, at The Harvard Club in New York.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Abundance, the 1990 play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart). An epic tale of friendship set against the backdrop of the sweeping American West, Abundance will be directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, who directed last season's production of William Inge's Natural Affection. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Opening night is set forSunday, March 1 at 6:00pm. Performances will continue through March 28, 2015.

The John W. Engeman Theater has announced the cast and creative team for VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE. Performances begin on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 8:00pm and run through March 8, 2015.

City Theatre finishes the first-half of its 40th anniversary season with a world premiere, solo play. MR. JOY, by Daniel Beaty, directed by Lou Jacob, will run on City Theatre's Mainstage January 24 - February 15, 2015.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2014/15 Season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by Jessica Stone. The production will run January 10-February 1, 2015, with the opening night on Friday, January 16 at 8pm. Tickets starting at $20 and ticket packages for Two River's season are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org. Absurd Person Singular is supported by co-sponsor The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

Bay City Players will present Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, by Christopher Durang, January 23 - 25 & January 29 - February 1, 2015 at the Bay City Players, 1214 Columbus Avenue, in Bay City. Performance times are 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Today we are analyzing all aspects of the brand new big screen edition of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS.

Christopher Durang's irresistible comedy "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike", Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan's outrageous musical "The Producers", and William Finn and James Lapine's extraordinary musical "Falsettos" make up the three award winning plays and musicals in Sierra Stages' 7th Season beginning in March 2015. Each of the shows represents the best in contemporary live theatre and each is a Nevada County premiere.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for its winter comedy, Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. This touching and wickedly hysterical Tony Award-winning best play features Broadway, television and film veterans: Philippe Bowgen (Spike), Gina Daniels (Cassandra), Carolyn McCormick (Masha), Mark Nelson (Vanya), Michele Pawk (Sonia) and Jamie Ann Romero (Nina). Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will be directed by Don Stephenson. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from January 21 through February 15, 2015. The official press opening night is Sunday, January 25, at 7:00pm. Paper Mill Playhouse's 2014-2015 Season is sponsored by Investors Bank.

Silver Spring Stage presents Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge by Christopher Durang, directed by Star Johnson and produced by Joseph Coracle, Pauline Griller-Mitchell and Star Johnson, a hilarious parody of the Christmas Carol story from the viewpoint of a stressed out Mrs. Cratchit. Christmas will never be the same! Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge will perform two weekends today, December 12 to December 21, 2014.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company's productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences.

Silver Spring Stage presents Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge by Christopher Durang, directed by Star Johnson and produced by Joseph Coracle, Pauline Griller-Mitchell and Star Johnson, a hilarious parody of the Christmas Carol story from the viewpoint of a stressed out Mrs. Cratchit. Christmas will never be the same! Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge will perform two weekends December 12 to December 21, 2014.

City Theatre has announced a contract with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to implement the VSA Playwright Discovery Program in Pittsburgh classrooms.

In honor of their 10th anniversary, Bootless returns to its roots with an evening of one act plays, May 14-16.

The hilarious holiday favorite, The SantaLand Diaries by David Sedaris, adapted by Joe Mantello and produced by Cleveland Public Theatre, makes its return to PlayhouseSquare this holiday season, Nov. 28 - Dec. 21, starring native Clevelander Eric Schmiedl as "Crumpet."

RECKLESS, by Craig Lucas, wants to be a black comedy. The script, written in a cinematographic style, poses some serious problems in staging. For something so paper thin to work, the audience needs to go on the same nightmare downhill sleigh ride as the protagonist. We need to feel as buffeted by the play itself as she does by the events of the play. Unfortunately, the staging of this production is weighed down by numerous lengthy scene changes on what is a minimalistic set. These numerous changes bog the evening down and what should be a barrage of insanity ends up being a few humorous moments. The cartoon craziness this script cries out for never really happens.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre will hold its Winter Benefit on Monday, December 1st at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street). The festive evening entitled 'Catch A Rising Star' will be emceed by legendary Broadway song and dance man Lee Roy Reams and will feature musical performances by eight young up-and-coming Broadway talents. The evening will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the show at 7:00 p.m.

The City Theatre presents the holiday production of Craig Lucas' richly inventive comedy, Reckless. Under the direction of Artistic Director Andy Berkovsky and starring Suzanne Balling, the performances begin tonight, November 21 through December 21 at The City Theatre, with two shows Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday, November 29 and Sunday, November 30.

Playwrights Horizons' production of POCATELLO, the world premiere of a new play by Obie, Drama Desk and Lortel awards winner and 2014 MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' grantee Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale at PH, The Few, A Bright New Boise), is directed by Davis McCallum (The Whale at PH, The Few, London Wall, A Bright New Boise, Water by the Spoonful). The play is the third production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season. The production will begin previews tonight, November 21 with an opening night set for Monday, December 15. The limited engagement will play through Sunday evening, January 4, 2015 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).